Chelsea facing Feyenoord heat over Ake deal

The Sunday Telegraph says after the controversy surrounding the signing of Gael Kakuta last season, Chelsea are again being criticised for an approach to an under-age player. Nathan Ake, who turns 16 this week, is to join Chelsea after they agreed compensation with Feyenoord.

In Holland it has been reported that the compensation could be as much as 800,000, a figure those reports say are inflated by the fact that Ake posted pictures of a visit to Cobham on his Facebook page when, as he is still 15, he should not have been approached by another club and certainly not represented by an agent.

Chelsea insist that "they have done everything by the book and kept Feyenoord abreast of our interest at every stage". Feyenoord are not making a complaint but the transfer has sparked questions in the Dutch parliament and the Dutch FA has submitted a dossier on the deal to the sports minister.

Wil van Megen, an Amsterdam-based lawyer for players union FIFPro, said: "The way the club and the agent have operated in this particular case is condemnable and blameworthy."

As Chelsea have agreed terms with Feyenoord, there is no suggestion that they will face any sanction, but paying substantial fees in compensation for teenagers is something Chelsea want to reduce in the future.